Pneumatic umbrella with shell

ABSTRACT

An umbrella is provided including a lower tube, an upper tube slidably coupled with the lower tube and a slider assembly including a slider slidably mounted along the upper tube. Also included is a retractable assembly mounted on the upper tube and connected to the slider of the slider assembly. The retractable assembly has a raised orientation for deploying the retractable assembly and a lowered orientation for retracting the retractable assembly. Also included is a pneumatic extender connected to the slider of the slider assembly for forcing the same to the raised orientation. When the retractable assembly is retracted, the same forms a protective shell about the tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to umbrellas and more particularlypertains to a new pneumatic umbrella with shell for providing anumbrella which is automatically opened and closed and further forms ashell when closed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of umbrellas is known in the prior art. More specifically,umbrellas heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basicallyof familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations,notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded priorart which have been developed for the fulfillment of countlessobjectives and requirements.

Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,235,997, 4,766,920, 4,747,422;5,224,505; 2,705,967; 2,503,032; 2,224,882; U.S. Patent Des. 361,198,French No. 347,564, and French No. 2,238,448.

In these respects, the pneumatic umbrella with shell according to thepresent invention substantially departs from the conventional conceptsand designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatusprimarily developed for the purpose of providing an umbrella which isautomatically opened and closed and further forms a shell when closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofumbrellas now present in the prior art, the present invention provides anew pneumatic umbrella with shell construction wherein the same can beutilized for providing an umbrella which is automatically opened andclosed and further forms a shell when closed.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new pneumatic umbrellawith shell apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of theumbrellas mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in anew pneumatic umbrella with shell which is not anticipated, renderedobvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art umbrellas,either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a lower tube,an upper tube slidably coupled with the lower tube and a slider assemblyincluding a slider slidably mounted along the upper tube. Also includedis a retractable assembly mounted on the upper tube and connected to theslider of the slider assembly. The retractable assembly has a raisedorientation for deploying the retractable assembly and a loweredorientation for retracting the retractable assembly. Also included is apneumatic extender connected to the slider of the slider assembly forforcing the same to the raised orientation. When the retractableassembly is retracted, the same forms a protective shell about thetubes.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a newpneumatic umbrella with shell apparatus and method which has many of theadvantages of the umbrellas mentioned heretofore and many novel featuresthat result in a new pneumatic umbrella with shell which is notanticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of theprior art umbrellas, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new pneumaticumbrella with shell which may be easily and efficiently manufactured andmarketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a newpneumatic umbrella with shell which is of a durable and reliableconstruction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a newpneumatic umbrella with shell which is susceptible of a low cost ofmanufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and whichaccordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consumingpublic, thereby making such pneumatic umbrella with shell economicallyavailable to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newpneumatic umbrella with shell which provides in the apparatuses andmethods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, whilesimultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associatedtherewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a newpneumatic umbrella with shell for providing an umbrella which isautomatically opened and closed and further forms a shell when closed.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newpneumatic umbrella with shell that includes a lower tube, an upper tubeslidably coupled with the lower tube and a slider assembly including aslider slidably mounted along the upper tube. Also included is aretractable assembly mounted on the upper tube and connected to theslider of the slider assembly. The retractable assembly has a raisedorientation for deploying the retractable assembly and a loweredorientation for retracting the retractable assembly. Also included is apneumatic extender connected to the slider of the slider assembly forforcing the same to the raised orientation. When the retractableassembly is retracted, the same forms a protective shell about thetubes.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a new pneumatic umbrella with shell accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention in a retractedorientation.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention in a deployed orientation.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the tubes and slider assemblyof the present invention, wherein the slider assembly is in a deployedorientation.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the tubes and slider assemblyof the present invention, wherein the slider assembly is in a retractedorientation.

FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the slider assembly lockedwithin the raised orientation by the plungers.

FIG. 8 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the tubes locked withrespect to each other in the extended orientation.

FIG. 9 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the handle and pressurizedair generator of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top cross-sectional view of the upper tube and sliderassembly of the present invention taken along line 10—10 shown in FIG.5.

FIG. 11 is a top cross-sectional view of the lower tube and sliderassembly of the present invention taken along line 11—11 shown in FIG.6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through11 thereof, a new pneumatic umbrella with shell embodying the principlesand concepts of the present invention and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

The present invention, designated as numeral 10, includes a lower tube12 with a hollow cylindrical configuration having a first diameter. Apair of diametrically opposed slits are formed in the lower tube andextend along a length thereof. As shown in FIG. 11 and similar to thatshown in FIG. 10, one of the side edges of each of the slits has aresilient lip extending therefrom for covering the associated slit. Assuch, the lower tube is maintained sufficiently air tight. The lowertube has a bottom end with a hollow cylindrical handle 14 mountedthereon. This handle is equipped with a plurality of concentricundulations formed in an outer surface thereof. Further, a top end ofthe lower tube has an inwardly extending annular lip 16 formed in aninner surface thereof.

Next provided is an air pressure generator 18 positioned within thehandle for reasons that will soon become apparent. The air pressuregenerator has a push button 20 mounted on the outer surface of thehandle. This button serves for excreting air from the handle and intothe lower tube upon the depression thereof. To accomplish this purpose,the air pressure generator preferably includes a blower with a motorattached, but may take the form of any type of apparatus for generatingpressurized air such as a pressurized carbon dioxide tank or the like.

Associated with the lower tube is an upper tube 22 with a hollowcylindrical configuration. The upper tube has an inner surface with asecond diameter less than the first diameter and an outer surface with athird diameter greater than the first diameter. Similar to the lowertube and as shown in FIG. 10, the upper tube has a pair of diametricallyopposed slits 24 formed therein with resilient lips 26 which maintainthe upper tube air tight. Ideally, the lips 26 abut the opposing half ofthe tube to afford the foregoing seal.

The upper tube further has a concentric recess 28 formed between theinner surface and the outer surface of the upper tube. Such concentricrecess extends between a central extent of the upper tube and a lowerend of the upper tube. As shown in FIGS. 5 & 8, the lower end of theupper tube has an inwardly extending annular flange 30 coupled to theinner surface of the upper tube. An outwardly extending annular flange32 is mounted within the concentric recess. Note again FIGS. 5 & 8. Forreasons that will soon become apparent, an outwardly extending annularstop 34 is formed on the outer surface of the upper tube.

In use, the top end of the lower tube is slidably received within theconcentric recess between a retracted orientation shown in FIG. 6 and anextended orientation shown in FIG. 5. In the extended orientation, theoutwardly extending annular flange of the upper tube remains inengagement with the inwardly extending annular lip of the lower tube.Further, the slits of the upper tube and the lower tube remain inalignment. This may be accomplished by a slot and groove combination orthe like.

Also included is a slider assembly 38 having a hollow cylinder 40slidably mounted along the outer surface of the upper tube. The cylinderof the slider assembly includes a pair of radially spaced tangs 42extending outwardly therefrom at an upper edge thereof. Next provided isa piston 44 slidably positioned within the upper tube with a pair ofdiametrically opposed arms 48 coupled thereto and extending therefromthrough the slits of the tubes. Such arms are coupled to an innersurface of the hollow cylinder for moving coincidentally therewith. Asthe arms pass through the tubes, the aforementioned lips 26 are biasedoutwardly only slightly to allow minimal loss of air within the tube.Ideally, the arms have an L-shaped cross-section for affording anoptimal seal of the associated tube. Note FIG. 10. In use, the plungeris prevented from leaving the upper tube by the inwardly extendingflange. Mounted on an upper end of the upper tube is a cap 50. It shouldbe noted that the upper tube may be sealed by any desired means.

FIGS. 1-4 show a canopy assembly 52 including a plurality of radiallyspaced upper inboard arms 54 hingably coupled at inboard ends thereof tothe cap and extending outwardly therefrom. A plurality of lower inboardarms 56 with lengths greater than that of the upper inboard arms arealso provided. Such lower inboard arms 56 are pivotally coupled atinboard ends thereof to the tangs of the cylinder of the sliderassembly. The lower inboard arms are further pivotally coupled atcentral extents thereof to outboard ends of the upper inboard arms. Asbests shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of intermediate arms 60 have inboardends pivotally coupled to the upper inboard arms.

The canopy assembly further includes a plurality of uniquely designedmetal or plastic outboard arms 62 each pivotally coupled to outboardends of the intermediate arms and the lower inboard arms. The outboardarms are each constructed from a resilient material and have an outersurface with an arcuate lateral cross-section and an inner surface witha similar arcuate lateral cross-section. A pair of side edges of theoutboard arms are corrugated with a plurality of cut outs 64 of anyshape.

The canopy assembly further includes flexible elastic sheet 66 mountedon the arms for defining a hemispherical configuration when the cylinderof the slider assembly is in a raised orientation. When the cylinder ofthe slider assembly is in such orientation, the outboard ends arms ofthe canopy assembly are biased to form an arcuate configuration. Uponthe cylinder of the slider assembly being in a lowered orientation, theside edges of the outboard arms straighten out and interlock to define acylindrical shell 68 which encompasses the tubes in concentricrelationship.

Also included is a pair of diametrically opposed spring biased plungers70. As shown in FIGS. 4-7, the plungers are mounted within the uppertube between the inner surface and the outer surface thereof. In use,the plungers extend radially outward from the tubes. Ideally, theplungers are spring loaded transducers of electromagnetic solenoidsadapted to retract only upon the receipt of an activation signal.

In use, upon the depression of the button of the air generator, pressureforces the piston and the cylinder of the slider assembly to the raisedorientation. Ideally, the air pressure generated and the seal within thetubes is sufficient enough to raise the plunger into the upper tube.When raised, the cylinder of the slider assembly is locked in place viathe spring biased plungers. Further, the aforementioned pressure forcesthe tubes to transfer to the extended orientation. The umbrella is thusready for use as shown in FIG. 4.

Upon the sliding of the cylinder of the slider assembly to the raisedorientation, a pressure builds between the cap and the piston. Thepurpose of this pressure is two-fold one of which is to damp the upwardmovement of the plunger and cylinder of the slider assembly. Thispressure and the elastic material of the sheet further serve to forcethe cylinder of the slider assembly to the lowered orientation uponrelease of the cylinder of the slider assembly by the spring biasedplungers. It should be noted that the slits of the tubes allow thepressure within the upper and lower tubes to equalize shortly afterdeployment of the canopy thereby ensuring that the pressurized airbetween the plunger and the cap and the elasticity of the sheet iscapable of retracting the canopy assembly. When desired, the release ofthe plungers may be accomplished by positioning a button and batteryadjacent the plungers or on the handle with a coiled wire or radiotransceiver for communicating the aforementioned activation signal. Itshould be noted that retraction of the lower tube into the upper tubemay be effected in several ways such as manual retraction, reversal ofthe air generator within the handle, or any other method. It should benoted that in other embodiments, the concepts of the present inventionmay be applied to satellite reflectors and the like. Other drivemechanisms such as hydraulic, motorized, or electromagnetic systems maybe used to mechanize the present invention. Further options include acombination lock or the like and additional spring loaded plungers forkeeping the upper and lower tubes extended.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. An umbrella assembly comprising: a lower tube with a hollowcylindrical configuration having a first diameter and a pair ofdiametrically opposed slits formed therein and extending along a lengththereof with one side edge of each of the slits having a resilient lipextending therefrom for covering the associated slit and maintaining thelower tube air tight, the lower tube having a bottom end with a hollowcylindrical handle mounted thereon with a plurality of concentricundulations formed in an outer surface thereof the lower tube having atop end with an inwardly extending annular lip formed in an innersurface thereof; an air pressure generator positioned within the handlefor excreting air from the handle and into the lower tube upon theactuation thereof; an upper tube with a hollow cylindrical configurationhaving an inner surface with a second diameter less than the firstdiameter and an outer surface with a third diameter greater than thefirst diameter, the upper tube having a pair of diametrically opposedslits formed therein with one of the side edges of each of the slitshaving a resilient lip extending therefrom for covering the associatedslit of the upper tube and maintaining the upper tube air tight, theupper tube further having a concentric recess formed in between theinner surface and the outer surface of the upper tube, wherein theconcentric recess extends between a central extent of the upper tube anda lower end of the upper tube, the lower end of the upper tube having aninwardly extending annular flange coupled to the inner surface of theupper tube, an outwardly extending annular flange mounted within theconcentric recess, and an outwardly extending annular stop coupled tothe outer surface of the upper tube, wherein the top end of the lowertube is slidably received within the concentric recess between aretracted orientation and an extended orientation with the outwardlyextending annular flange of the upper tube in engagement with theinwardly extending annular lip of the lower tube, wherein the slits ofthe upper tube and the lower tube remain in alignment; a slider assemblyincluding a hollow cylinder slidably mounted along the outer surface ofthe upper tube, the cylinder of the slider assembly including a pair ofradially spaced tangs extending outwardly therefrom at an upper edgethereof, a piston slidably positioned within the upper tube with a pairof diametrically opposed arms coupled thereto and extending therefromthrough the slits of the tubes and coupled to an inner surface of thehollow cylinder for moving coincidentally therewith; a cap mounted on anupper end of the upper tube; a canopy assembly including a plurality ofradially spaced upper inboard arms hingably coupled at inboard endsthereof to the cap and extending outwardly therefrom, a plurality oflower inboard arms with lengths greater than that of the upper inboardarms and pivotally coupled at inboard ends thereof to the tangs of thecylinder of the cylinder of the slider assembly and at a central extentthereof to outboard ends of the upper inboard arms, a plurality ofintermediate arms having inboard ends pivotally coupled to the upperinboard arms, and a plurality of outboard arms each pivotally coupled tooutboard ends of the intermediate arms and the lower inboard arms, theoutboard arms each constructed from a resilient material and having anouter surface with an arcuate lateral cross-section, an inner surfacewith an arcuate lateral cross-section and a pair of side edges which arecorrugated with a plurality of rectangular cut outs, the canopy assemblyfurther including flexible elastic sheet mounted on the arms fordefining a hemispherical configuration when the cylinder of the sliderassembly is in a raised orientation and wherein the side edges of theoutboard arms interlock to define a cylindrical shell which encompassesthe tubes in concentric relationship upon the cylinder of the sliderassembly being in a lowered orientation; a pair of diametrically opposedspring biased plungers mounted within the upper tube between the innersurface and the outer surface thereof and extending outwardly therefrom;wherein upon actuation of the air generator, pressure forces the pistonand the cylinder of the slider assembly to the raised orientationwhereat the same are locked in place by the spring biased plungers andthe tubes are transferred to the extended orientation; wherein upon thesliding of the cylinder of the slider assembly to the raisedorientation, a pressure builds between the cap and the piston, saidpressure and the elastic material adapted to force the cylinder of theslider assembly to the lowered orientation upon release of the cylinderof the slider assembly by the spring biased plungers.
 2. An assemblycomprising: a tube; a slider assembly including a slider slidablymounted along the tube; and a piston slidable within the tube which isfluid-filled and fluid-tight, the piston being connected to the sliderof the slider assembly by an arm extending through a slot formed in thetube with a fluid-tight seal for sliding the slider of the sliderassembly along the tube by way of pressurized fluid.
 3. An assembly asset forth in claim 2 wherein the slider of the slider assembly ismaintained in at least one orientation by way of a catch positioned onthe tube.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein a retractableassembly is mounted on the tube and connected to the slider of theslider assembly thereby having a raised orientation when the slider andthe piston are in a first orientation along the tube and a loweredorientation when the slider and the piston are in a second orientationalong the tube.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein thepressurized fluid is generated by a pressure generator within a handleon the tube.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the tube isdefined by an upper tube and a lower tube slidably coupled with respectto each other.
 7. A dome shaped assembly comprising: a tube; a sliderassembly including a slider slidably mounted along the tube; and aretractable assembly mounted on the tube and connected to the slider ofthe slider assembly and having a raised orientation for deploying theretractable assembly and a lowered orientation for retracting theretractable assembly; wherein the retractable assembly includes aplurality of arms at least a portion of which includes widened memberswhich abut to form a shell encompassing the tube upon the slider of theslider assembly being transferred to the lowered orientation; whereinsaid arms have interlocking side edges that interlock in the loweredorientation.
 8. A dome shaped assembly as set forth in claim 7 whereinthe widened arms include an arcuate cross-section for defining acylindrical shell.
 9. A dome shaped assembly as set forth in claim 7wherein the arms each have corrugated side edges.
 10. A dome shapedassembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the tube is defined by an uppertube and a lower tube slidably coupled with respect to each other.